In 1959, social scientist Marshall Segall traveled to Uganda to study the effects of the breaking down of colonialism on the individual citizen. He chose to focus on the Ba-yankole group,in the area of Mbarara, Ankole region. Although not a filmmaker, used a Bolex camera to make a record of his trip. The result, Gentle Winds of Change Uganda (1961, Columbia U) is a fascinating pastiche of social scenes, such as the making of plantain beer, and a local wedding, and political commentary. Several years after the film was released, Segall joined a number of US-based educators who sent a telegram to the Milton Obate-led Ugandan government, in protest of the arrest of liberal publisher Rajat Neogy. In response, the Ugandan government issued a statement breaking off diplomatic relationship between itself and Syracuse University, where Segall was teaching at the time. This remarkable work is the only film Segall ever made.

Segall, a professor of Psychology at Columbia, here investigates the impact of Western Civilization on Uganda, Scenes include a traditional wedding and the making of plantain beer. Segall originally traveled to Uganda for the purpose of making a sociological study, but decided to craft his footage into a film upon returning to the U.S.

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